retirement Archives - CURLY AND CANDID

I recent months I’ve started to do a lot of future planning. I’ve looked at finances, insurances and even retirement. A lot of people tend to avoid the topic of retirement as much as they can. They think that it’s not going to happen any time soon and that they have plenty of time to save up money for the day they exit the workforce. In reality, you should be planning for retirement as early as possible to help you manage your financial responsibilities. Early retirement can sound like a good idea, but it’s actually more about reaching financial freedom so that you can safely retire with ample funds to live out your golden years. If the current situation has taught me anything it is that having your bases covered, from pensions to considering retirement accommodation options should be put off.

In this post, I’ll be covering some of the most common retirement accommodation options and why you should consider them.

Considering Retirement Accommodation Options: House Sharing with Relatives

If your relatives or family members are inviting you to stay with them, then this can be the most economical option since you can simply sell your home and take all the capital into your retirement fund. This can be a great option for families with larger homes.

Care Homes

For seniors with medical or mobility issues, care homes might be the most practical solution for retirement accommodation. You’ll be given a private room and shared communal areas to engage with other residents and staff members. While it can feel a little restrictive, it does provide the best care that you could ask for. Senior care ranges from full-on nursing support to much more independent choices. These are worth considering as you don’t know what your future holds and you want to be able to afford the best choice for you.

Retirement Villages

If you’d like to be surrounded by purpose-built developments and other seniors around your age then retirement villages can be a fantastic choice. These can provide a huge mix of accommodation styles and you’ll be able to downsize your existing property to something a lot smaller and affordable. Consider a set up such as ERL retirement villages that offer lots of additional services and local amenities that can enhance your experience. While there are some age restrictions, these self-contained villages can feel like holiday homes in some cases and will provide lots of extra comforts that will make your life a lot easier.

Considering Retirement Accommodation Options: Staying in Your Current Home

Of course, you could just stay with your current home if you’re content with it. While many people prefer to just stay in their own home, there are arguments for downsizing that should be considered since it can save a lot of money and offer more comfort. Staying in a large and empty home isn’t for everyone but it really depends on your personal preferences.

Just like how you have lots of retirement options, there are also lots of different choices for retirement accommodation. Doing your research here is important because purchasing a retirement property can be a huge investment.

Have you started to look differently at your future because of what is going on in the world and your world right now? I certainly have. Next up is to take another look at my insurances to make sure everything is up to date and that my cover is adequate.

Listen to What They Want

Unfortunately, some people deny the elderly their independence simply by not listening to what their wants and needs are. Even when facing the difficulties that come with dementia and Alzheimers, your parents are likely to make it clear what they require. Sometimes, you just need to listen a little closer or ask them questions when they’re having a good (or better) day. Patience is key and listening is just as important.

Independence For The Elderly: Make Their Homes Safe

More often than not, elderly people want to stay in the comfort of their own homes. In fact, leaving these homes can be quite distressing, especially if this is where they have so many memories of your family’s time together. Do all that you can, then, to make their homes safe to live in so that they have as much autonomy as possible. Installing a stairlift is a great help here, and there are many other options, too.

Look Into Live-in Carers and Visiting Carers

Most people can access care from their homes, and if you’d prefer to ensure that your parents or other family members are safe at all times then you can look into live-in care, too. This will help to put your mind at ease, but if you want to assess the other options available then visiting care is also worth considering. This takes a little bit of the strain off your family, whilst still allowing your parents their independence at home.

Independence For The Elderly: Consider a Personal Alarm

When you’re helping someone to maintain their independence, it most likely means that they’re going to be alone at some point. To make sure that they’re safe and to make you feel secure in the fact that they’re OK, why not get them personal alarms? If anything happens – for example, if they fall over – they can be connected with you in an instant, so that they can get the help and support they really need.

Install a Key Safe

A key safe is vital if you want to support your parents whilst they live at home, and they’re pretty affordable, too. Getting one of these installed means that you can get into the house if they aren’t responding, or there is an emergency situation. On top of this, you can let yourself in, which is ideal if your parents struggle from limited mobility or any other issues. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so be sure to get a key safe installed.

These are just a few things to consider promoting independence for the elderly. Speak to relevant healthcare and community group for further localised support on practical help and support for yourself. Being a carer, even part-time, is a big job.